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Home / IPI in the Media / Sunday Business Post: Planning and Public Health in an Age of Pandemic

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Sunday Business Post: Planning and Public Health in an Age of Pandemic

Posted on June 14, 2020June 27, 2021 by Irish Planning Institute

How we plan our cities has always been a reflection of prevailing public health epidemics. As history shows, our urban environs continue to evolve regardless of crises – they endure, adapt and grow.

The Covid-19 pandemic has radically transformed urban life. Since lockdown, new measures and ways of living have been introduced and implemented in response to Covid-19 as people practice social-distancing. Working from home is the new normal, and for whom it’s even a feasible option, to begin with. The lines between office, home and leisure activities are blurring, requiring open spaces, buildings and residences to execute multiple purposes in a defined amount of space.

Covid-19 and the experience of confinement have made evident the urgent need for radical change in how we plan our urban environment. While the focus is on an economic recovery, actions towards reaching a net-zero carbon society needs to be prioritised. In order to rebuild Ireland with a strong economy and increased resilience, the government and planners will be vital to delivering a coordinated and strategic approach that balances these priorities suitably.

At present, a drastic drop in carbon emissions attributable to travel and industry coming to a halt has been recorded in Ireland and around the globe.  The unprecedented fall is likely to be temporary as people staying at home and not traveling is unsustainable and not the appropriate way to reach our agreed climate change targets. The relationship between poor air quality, causing chronic health conditions and increasing susceptibility to Covid-19 has been well documented. The pandemic has highlighted the need for long term strategies to improve air quality through investing in active travel, restricting polluting vehicles and promoting clean energy to continue as key priorities for planners.

This pandemic has placed an increased emphasis on the social, environmental and economic determinants of public health. Going forward, a renewed focus will be on public health as a core value to consider in urban planning. Post pandemic, therefore, we should be planning not just for economic recovery, but for a healthy, socially just recovery to effectively address climate change.

Furthermore, cities and towns are part of the solution as they are centres of innovation and can be drivers of public health improvements, for example, through better urban and transport planning by favouring active forms of transportation such as walking and cycling. Cities around Ireland are being radically reshaped in favour of cyclists and pedestrians as the abundance of street space is left vacant by the substantial drop in vehicle traffic. Recognising this opportunity, temporary tactical urbanism approaches have been implemented to create spaces that are both safe and social. Projects from the interim River Liffey cycle route, pedestrianisation of  College Green to the reallocation of road space for pedestrians and cyclists in Cork can serve as a catalyst for broader change in our towns and cities.

Currently, the idea of density is under critical observation in this era of physical distancing, despite the range of positive outcomes related to density in the urban environment. Density offers efficiency, shorter commutes, proximity to basic services, and community connection in unparalleled ways when applied thoughtfully. Covid-19 has caused us to develop a more nuanced appreciation of our open space and amenities within two kilometres of our homes.

One of the most innovative ways we now see density achieved is through the polycentric model, in which self-sufficient localities are allocated across cities and function like urban villages. Such models can improve the quality of life, promote walking, and provide public space and parks. In Paris, officials are looking to employ such measures in the form of the 15-minute city. Under this model, the majority of people’s needs, from work to shopping to leisure activities, would be found within a 15-minute walk or cycle from their homes.

One of the few places that have seen a surge in traffic during Covid-19 lockdowns is public spaces that have remained open. A new, more holistic approach to planning that combines grey, green and blue infrastructure is required to underpin better health, climate adaption and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, open spaces within the urban fabric can address future pandemics, and respond proactively to climate change.

Covid-19 is the ultimate test for the resilience of our towns and cities. As restrictions begin to lift across the country, we are only beginning to understand how Covid-19 will affect how we approach planning. As we rebuild our economy in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we must prioritise an economy and society that are cleaner, greener and more resilient.

Michelle Ball is the policy coordinator with the Irish Planning Institute

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